Will of Fortune Collin, of Nottingham, 1702

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

This is a transcription of the original will of Fortune Collin of Nottingham. Fortune had her will drawn up on 25 April 1702, but when it was presented to her to sign on the 28 April, she was too weak to hold the pen. It was thus witnessed as a nuncupative will by three witnesses. Fortune died the following day. The will was proved at the Archdeaconry Court of Nottingham on 1 May 1702. ^[1]

Transcription conventions used in this text:
Spelling, punctuation and line breaks are as per the original document.
The text was originally in one block of text. Paragraph breaks at change of bequest ("Item"), and bold text for names have been added for ease of reading.
Where present, ff has been rendered as F, and the old letter Thorn has been rendered as th.
Abbreviations and breviographs have been expanded in [square brackets].
Additions and margin notes, where they occur, have been added where indicated in the text.
Crossings through, where they occur, have been included Struck out.
The image quality was acceptable, and the handwriting legible.

Persons mentioned:

• Fortune Collin unmarried daughter of Thomas Collin and his wife Sarah
• my dear Mother Sarah Collin widow of Nottingham
• Sarah Starkey Witness to will
• Wm Thompson Witness to will
• Jos. Eaton Witness to will
• Symon Starkey of Nottingham Gentleman. Stood bond for probate.

This Twenty Fifth day of April Anno Domini One Thousand
Seven Hundred & Two I Fortune Collin of the Town & County of
the Town of Nottingham being weak in Body but praised be
God of sound & disposing Mind & Memory do make & Ordain
this my last Will & Testament in form & manner following

Imprimis It is my Will & pleasure that all my just Debts & Funeral
Charges be paid by my Executrix hereafter nominated
After the discharging of which said Debts & Funeral Charges
as aforesaid All the rest of my Estate both real & personal I
give and bequeath unto my dear Mother Sarah Collin whom
I make and ordain Sole Executrix of this my last Will &
Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & seal the day & year first above written

Mem[oran]d[um] that the pr[e]ceeding Testam[en]t was ordered to be writ by the Testator
afores[ai]d & also co[m]mitted to writing on her Chamber & read over to her w[i]th
an audible Voice & was by her acknowledged to be her last Will and
Testam[en]t tho' under so much Weakness of Body that she could not hold the
Pen to sign it tho' she attempted to do it several times. Witness our
Hands this 28th day of April Anno Domini 1702

Sarah Starkey
Wm Thompson

I heard the testat[o]r say it was her
last will & Testam[en]t & that she gave
all to her mother & I saw her with
pen in hand attempt severall times
to signe the paper w[hi]ch by reason of
weakness she did not. She lived after
this about 30 hours & was sensible.
Witness my hand Jos. Eaton

Grant of Administration [in Latin]: Bound Sarah Collin of the Town and County of the Town of Nottingham widow and Symon Starkey of the same place, gentleman.
The first day of May AD 1702